Culvert.



PATBNTBD AUG. 6, 1907.

M. J. STOPFER.

CULVERT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22,1907.

@arrivarmi ,mira *i l l l. l

CULV

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6,1190?.

Application tiled May 22,1907. Serial itlo. 375,091.

To all rch/)m it may concern:

lle it known that l, irian'rlzv' JAY STOFFER, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Capac, in the county of St. (lair and State of lllichigan, have invented a new and useful Culvcrt7 of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to lcertain improvements in culvcrts of that general class especially designed for use beneath rail-way tracks, road-Ways and the like or in the construction oi sewers, conduits and similar structures. l

The object o the invention is to provide a culvert including a plurality of reinforced concrete sections having interlitt-ing parts and provided with .longitudiiniprovo this class 4of devices so as to increase their.

utility, durability and etlicicncy.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description, it being understood that various changes in forni, proportions and minor details ot construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a culvert Constructed in accordance with my invention.. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view ol the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3*-3 o Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View ol a portion of one 'of the reinforcing cores or bars.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all oi the figures oi the drawings. I

The improved culvert forming the subject matter of the present invention includes a plurality of substantially semi-circular sections 5 formed of cement, concrete or other suitable material and each having one longitudinal edge thereof formed with a locking tongue l) adapted to engage a correspondingly shaped groove .7 lorincd in the edge of an adjacent section whereby the several sections may be locked in assembled position.

The culvert sections 5 are supported on a suitable base or foundation preferably in the orn'i of spaced bars or butuients S, said sections being provided with at hearing surfaces 9 deluing depending stop flanges 10 which hear against the interior walls of the butinents 8, as shownand thus scrve to limit the lateral inoveiucnt of the culvert.sot-tions,

The culvert sections are formed with inwardly cr:- lcnlliug rt-lul'orcing ribs Vll haring longitudinal seating grooves l2 formed iu the lrcc ends thereof for the reception of truss rods 13, the opposite ends of which are threaded and extend through the exposed ace of the terminal culvert sections for engagement with suitable clamping nuts 14. It will thus be seen that by adjusting the nuts 14 on the threaded ends oi the truss rods the tongues o may be forced into engagement with the grooves 7 and thereby Kock the several culvert sections against accident-ai displacement. 1t will here be observed that the ribs .il gradually' decrease in length from the 'center of the culvert towards the opposite ends thereof while the threaded portions of the truss rods project through the exposed faces of the terminal culvert sections so as to iorrn s. firm anchorage for said rods. lt will also be noted that the truss rods 13 not only serve to lock the culvert sections in assembled position but also serve to reinforce and strengthen the culvert and in bracing the latter against vertical and lateral strains.

In order to assist in strengthening the culvert the several sections are ef1 h provided with one-or more radially corrugated, it., riorcing strips l5 curved to C011- forrn to the shape ol 'the culvert and preferably embedded odg *c in the cement or other plastic material during the torni-ation of the. culvert sections.

it will of course he understood that the culvert sections rnay be :nado in difierent. sizes and shapes and that as many t1 or tie liars may be employed as found necessary or desirable.

Having thus-dcscribcd the invention what is Claimed is: i

1..."1 culvert including; a plurality -o 'sections having strengthening ribs' projccirnar` within the culverts, truss rods sented in said ribs und extending.: longitudinally of the culvert, und ineens engaging.; the truss rods [or clamping the culvert .sections in assembled position.

A culvert iucludinur :l plurality (f sections having transverse strcnuthcniiu; ribs projecting within the culvert, truss rodsenguging; said ribs and et: ending longitudinally or' the culvert, and moans engaging the truss rods for clamping.: the sert-ral culvert sections in assembled position.

3. .i culvert including! a plurality or sections having strengthening ribs projecting; within the culvert and provided with llcrininnl :1 itug grooves, truss rods seated in snid (grooves. und nieu. engaging the truss rods for clamping' the culvcrtsccxia is in assembled position.

4. culvert including: n plurality of sections having strengthening lys projecting within the culvert and gradually decreasing nought from the center of the culvert to the opposite ends thereof, truss rods extending longltudl4 nelly of the cul` lrt and engaging said ribs, and 'means en gaging the tappo ends or' the tru culvert sections in assembled positron.

' rods for clamping the 4 A culvert l'ornud or :i plurality of substantially .semi-4 and projecting within'the culvert,` truss rods bearingl a'zainst the rihs and means engaging the truss rods for locking the sections in engagement witheach other.

7. A culvert including a plurality of sections having,r interlocking `faces, strengthening ribs projecting within the culvert and gradually decreasing in height from the eenter-thereof to the opposite ends of the culvert, longitudinal truss rods engaging said ribs for locking the several sections in engagement with each other, and means engaging the truss rods for locking the culvert sections in assembled position.

8. A`culvert including a plurality of vsections provided with strengthening ribs projecting within the culvert and having terminal seating grooves formed therein, truss rods engaging the seating grooves and extending longitudinally of the culvert, and clamping devices engaging the truss rods and hearing against the terminal culvert sections.

9. A culvert including a plurality of sections, transverse ribs formed integral with the culvert sections and projecting within the culvert, truss rods engaging the rihs and having their opposite ends threaded and extended through the terminal culvert sections, and nuts engaging the threaded ends of the truss rods and hearing against the terminal enlvert sections for locking the several sections in engagement willi each other.

10. A culvert. includingr a plurality of reinforced sections having interfitting parts, ribs rods seated in said grooves and having' their opposite ends threaded and extended through the terminal culvert seetions, and clamping devices engaging the threaded ends of the rods for locking the several culvert sections in engage ment with each other.

projecting within the culvert and provided with terminal seatingl grooves, and truss l1. A culvert including a plurality of reinforced culvert sections havingr inierfiitinf.r parts. ribs formed integral with the several culvert sections :1nd iu'ojlu'iiin,"r within the culvert, said rihs gradually decreasing from the eeniei-,of the culvert towards the opposite ends thereof and provided with terminal sealingr grooves, truss rods sealed in said grooves and haviin: their opposite ends threaded und exA tended tlironu'h the terminal eulver` tions. and unis engaging the threads on the truss rods-:ind hearing nguinsl the exterior face of the terminal culvert sections for lockA ing said sections in engagement wiih each other.

12. A culvert including spaced huiments. a plurality of eulvert'sections having hearing fares for engagement with the upper surfaces et the hutmenls and provided with depending tlanges hearing against the inner faces ol' said huiments, ribs extending longitudinally ot' the culvert and projecting within the same, said ribs heini;l inclined in opposite directions from the center of the culvert and having their free ends provided with seating grooves. find tie-rods sealed in said grooves and having their opposite ends threaded und extended through the terminal culvert sections, said sections heini.; each provided with a locking groove adapted to eng-age a corresponding recess formed in the dierent section, and clamping nuts engaging the threaded ends of the truss rods for lockingthe several sections in engagement with each other.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, l have hereto atlixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN .TAY Sl'Ulflilllt. Witnesses z Guo. Ilii'x'ri-m, W, E. WAluinN, 

